Super Rugby set for three-team cull

The Kings and the Cheetahs are the two South African franchises who seem to be in most danger of being cut, but the Kings do have the backing of government who consider the Eastern Cape a vital player in the mission to make rugby an all-inclusive sport in South Africa.

Clyne said the ACT Brumbies had also been on their shortlist for removal but after an "exhaustive analysis" they would remain in the streamlined tournament.

The ARU say a decision on whether the Perth-based Force or Melbourne-based Rebels will be made within 48-72 hours.

The Brumbies had initially been among three teams under threat but after an analysis of financial sustainability, performance and commercial factors, their future is now safe.

The Super Rugby saga took another twist yesterday when it emerged Melbourne Rebels owner Andrew Cox had offered to sell his Super Rugby licence back to the Australian Rugby Union.

In a clear reflection of the lack of form, four Australian teams now reside in the bottom eight, with only the Brumbies troubling the top-half of the table.

"Despite receiving $30 million of additional annual broadcast revenue from 2016, the financial challenges of Australian rugby will likely be used to justify today's short-sighted and ill-conceived decision which will limit the growth of rugby in Australia for generations to come".

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The Australian Rugby Union will now let the two endangered franchises plead their case for survival.

Clyne added: "Since the ARU expanded to five Super Rugby teams in 2010, the economy we operate in globally has changed dramatically". We're very confident where we stand. our rugby program, finances, facilities, support have always been stronger than anywhere else in Australia.

There was an eight to one split on the board to cut a team, with long-time chairman of Rugby WA Geoffrey Stooke expressing his disagreement at the move.

"We agree that the 18-team competition was unsustainable and that a return to a 15-team competition will provide a more engaging and overall improved product for fans". He joined ESPNscrum after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia's digital rugby coverage.

"It is important for me to clarify that the decision to remove a Super Rugby team from Australia was a decision made by the ARU, not by SANZAAR".

The Chiefs beat the Stormers 60-21 in the first stage of last season's playoffs but memories of that defeat were partly expunged as the Chiefs became the first New Zealand team to lose this year to a team from another conference.

Pulver admitted that agreeing to an 18-team competition, that has been scrapped after just 18 months, was a "mistake", with the warnings there about the future of Australian teams, but it was one that South African politics forced.

Under pressure due to financial losses and fan discontent over the confusing and unbalanced competition, SANZAAR has opted to slash it from 18 teams to 15 and from four conferences to three - the numbers that existed in 2015.

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